Once upon a
time there lived a vain Emperor whose only worry in life was to dress in elegant
clothes.
He changed clothes almost every hour and loved to show them off to his people.

Word of the Emperor's refined habits spread over his kingdom and beyond.
Two scoundrels who had heard of the Emperor's vanity decided to take advantage
of it.
They introduced themselves at the gates of the palace with a scheme in mind.

"We are two very good tailors and after many years of research we have invented
an extraordinary method to weave a cloth so light and fine that it looks
invisible.
As a matter of fact it is invisible to anyone who is too stupid and incompetent
to appreciate its quality."

The chief of the guards heard the scoundrel's strange story and sent for the
court chamberlain.
The chamberlain notified the prime minister, who ran to the Emperor and
disclosed the incredible news.
The Emperor's curiosity got the better of him and he decided to see the two
scoundrels.

"Besides being invisible, your highness, this cloth will be woven in colours and
patterns created especially for you." The emperor gave the two men a bag of gold
coins in exchange for their promise to begin working on the fabric immediately.

"Just tell us what you need to get started and we'll give it to you." The two
scoundrels asked for a loom, silk, gold thread and then pretended to begin
working.
The Emperor thought he had spent his money quite well: in addition to getting a
new extraordinary suit, he would discover which of his subjects were ignorant
and incompetent.
A few days later, he called the old and wise prime minister, who was considered
by everyone as a man with common sense.

"Go and see how the work is proceeding," the Emperor told him, "And come back to
let me know."

The prime minister was welcomed by the two scoundrels.

"We're almost finished, but we need a lot more gold thread. Here, excellency!
Admire the colours, feel the softness!"
The old man bent over the loom and tried to see the fabric that was not there.
He felt cold sweat on his forehead.

"I can't see anything," he thought. "If I see nothing, that means I'm stupid!
Or, worse, incompetent!"
If the prime minister admitted that he didn't see anything, he would be
discharged from his office.

"What a marvellous fabric," he said then. "I'll certainly tell the Emperor."
The two scoundrels rubbed their hands gleefully. They had almost made it. More
thread was requested to finish the work.

Finally, the Emperor received the announcement that the two tailors had come to
take all the measurements needed to sew his new suit.

"Come in," the Emperor ordered.
Even as they bowed, the two scoundrels pretended to be holding large roll of
fabric.

"Here it is your highness, the result of our labour," the scoundrels said.
"We have worked night and day but, at last, the most beautiful fabric in the
world is ready for you. Look at the colours and feel how fine it is."

Of course the Emperor did not see any colours and could not feel any cloth
between his fingers.
He panicked and felt like fainting. But luckily the throne was right behind him
and he sat down.
But when he realized that no one could know that he did not see the fabric, he
felt better.
Nobody could find out he was stupid and incompetent.
And the Emperor didn't know that everybody else around him thought and did the
very same thing.

The farce continued as the two scoundrels had foreseen it.
Once they had taken the measurements, the two began cutting the air with
scissors while sewing with their needles an invisible cloth.

"Your highness, you'll have to take off your clothes to try on your new ones."
The two scoundrels draped the new clothes on him and then held up a mirror.
The Emperor was embarrassed but since none of his bystanders were, he felt
relieved.

"Yes, this is a beautiful suit and it looks very good on me," the Emperor said
trying to look comfortable. "You've done a fine job."

"Your majesty," the prime minister said, "We have a request for you. The people
have found out about this extraordinary fabric and they are anxious to see you
in your new suit."
The Emperor was doubtful showing himself naked to the people, but then he
abandoned his fears.
After all, no one would know about it except the ignorant and the incompetent.

"All right," he said. "I will grant the people this privilege."
He summoned his carriage and the ceremonial parade was formed.
A group of dignitaries walked at the very front of the procession and anxiously
scrutinized the faces of the people in the street. All the people had gathered
in the main square, pushing and shoving to get a better look.
An applause welcomed the regal procession.
Everyone wanted to know how stupid or incompetent his or her neighbour was but,
as the Emperor passed, a strange murmur rose from the crowd.

Everyone said, loud enough for the others to hear: "Look at the Emperor's new
clothes. They're beautiful!"

"What a marvellous train!"

"And the colours! The colours of that beautiful fabric! I have never seen
anything like it in my life!"

They all tried to conceal their disappointment at not being able to see the
clothes, and since nobody was willing to admit his own stupidity and
incompetence, they all behaved as the two scoundrels had predicted.

A child, however, who had no important job and could only see things as his eyes
showed them to him, went up to the carriage.

"The Emperor is naked," he said.

"Fool!" his father reprimanded, running after him. "Don't talk nonsense!"
He grabbed his child and took him away.

But the boy's remark, which had been heard by the bystanders, was repeated over
and over again until everyone cried: "The boy is right! The Emperor is naked!
It's true!"